Farm Experience: Tour, Dinner, and Wine Tasting

"This might be the best place we've ever stayed" 14-year-old boys rarely gush that much about a vacation stay - but Salvatore and his entire family made a massive impression on our family of four during our five day stay. The breathtaking setting, the locally-sourced food, the genuine hospitality and the hard-working family behind the business impressed us from the moment we arrived - after midnight. We emailed Salvatore that we wouldn't land in Naples until 10:30pm. He quickly replied that that was no problem. They'd wait up. They also suggested a more fitting room for our family of four. After getting our rental car, we were delayed by traffic surrounding an overnight religious parade. But when we arrived at 12:30am, they greeted us with a smile and showed us to our room where we collapsed. We woke up to incredible beauty our of our bedrooms, overlooking the Bay of Naples. Salvatore, his two brothers and his mother met us with a smile every time we saw them. Breakfast was included and featured oranges to freshly squeeze into juice, homemade orange, lemon and mandarin jam, homemade yogurt, homemade croissants, homemade pastries, homemade cheese and sausage and fresh eggs made anyway you'd like. Plus, whatever coffee you'd like. We chose the capuccino served with a smile. The grounds pack a lot of agriculture into a little space. We spotted four pigs, a goose, rabbits, a small flock of chickens, a big garden, and many rows of grapes, olives and fruit trees. The hardworking family juggles the rooms for rent, the farm and a great kitchen that offers lunch or dinner each day on the breathtaking patio or in a dining room room with clear walls to make it feel like you're outside, even when you're not. Walls of jasmine are incredibly fregrant and flowers add color to the entire setting overlooking the bay. And Flash, their dog, greeted us every time we returned. A few practicalities: You need a car and the roads are narrow, including the driveway. It's very doable, but Italian driving takes some getting used to. The farm (and its neighbors) have some roosters that crow at first light. Bring ear plugs if that bothers you. The beds aren't Hilton's most comfortable - but the view and the hospitality more than make up for it. Bathrooms have a shower/tub, a toilet, a hairdryer, basic soap/shampoo and towels. Our stay felt like an incredible deal at 137 Euros/night for four - that might change by season. Our meal for four that included appetizers, four entrees, a bottle of homemade wine was a joyful two hour experience that cost 150 Euros. There is no laundry. We found a reasonable laundromat in Sorrento that made for an eventful family adventure. Sorrento's city center is about 15 minutes away. That's where we caught a ferry to Capri, a bus to Positano and Amalfi (because we didn't dare drive that crazy costal road - and I'm glad we didn't) and returned by boat from Amalfi. We found grocery stores in Sorrento that we used for picnics and gilato stands for dessert. We bought homemade jam from the agriturismo to remember our stay. They also sell homemade olive oil in 3 liter canisters. Watching the sun set over the gulf was a nightly appointment. Absolutely beautiful. And the fresh, clean air, combined with the smell of jasmine encouraged us to keep our windows wide open anytime we were there. Daily housekeeping kept our room clean and our beds were made daily. And Salvatore and his family were quick to offer advice from parking to logistics

Whenever we travel in Italy, we have a book at our side: Osterie d'Italia by slow food. This book is a compilation of restaurants that adhere to three simple rules: local recipes, local ingredients and only seasonal produce. This ensures that in general you will find authentic high quality local food. And again we were not disappointed. The food was fresh, the vegetables were fantastic, the pasta was delicious, home made wine and olive oil, and the staff was going out in the garden to get fresh herbs. Our host was very kind and went at lengths at explaining the dishes, the surrounding and culture. He is also trying to revive the production of local nuts and oranges that have a really distinct flavour. The orange sorbet was delicious. This is a must for anybody at the Amalfi coast.

Thank you for a wonderful visit in a cosy and relaxed environment with a magnificant view! The food was delicious, the rooms and premises were exeptionally well-maintained, and the family took great care of us! We highly recommend staying at Antico Casale if you are visiting the area near Sorrento and the Amalfi coast!

We had a delicious dinner and a beautiful sunset. Salvatore picked us up at our hotel and drove us to and from his family's wonderful farmhouse. We had as an appetizer several vegetable dishes, pasta for the first course, and a local fish for the second course. Their red and white vines were amazing.